Should People With High Blood Pressure Consider Reducing Their Coffee Or Caffeine Intake?

Should People With High Blood Pressure Consider Reducing Their Coffee Or Caffeine Intake?

Article
Behavioral & Mental Health
Health & Wellness
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Contributed byMaulik P. Purohit MD MPHApr 23, 2018

Coffee is a rich source of caffeine that has a dramatic effect on our blood pressure without our knowledge. People who suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension should specially consider reducing their coffee and caffeine intake. There are quite a few reasons that prove how regular caffeine intake can be harmful to patients with relatively high blood pressures.

How does caffeine affect your blood pressure?

A recent study published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2012 regarding the effect of caffeine on blood pressure suggested that habitual consumption of caffeine can increase your risk of hypertension and other major cardiovascular disorders, especially in case of patients with high blood pressure.

According to another paper published in Journal of Hypertension in 2012 by Dr. M. Steffen, regular consumption of caffeine and coffee could block our arteries and prevent hormones from widening them causing constriction. This harmful blockage of arteries in high blood pressure patients can lead to increased risk of other fatal conditions, like congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and angina pectoris.

Regular intake of caffeine through coffee can also cause your adrenal glands to produce adrenaline in an excessive quantity, causing a sharp spike in blood pressure. In patients with high blood pressure and risk of hypertension, this phenomenon can have a negative effect on the health of one’s heart and may weaken the force of contraction of heart muscles. 

According to a scientific study published in Journal of American College of Cardiology in 2013, caffeine particularly has a drastic negative effect on your blood pressure, if you are above the age of 55 years and suffer from hypertension, obesity, or diabetes. These degenerative conditions can lead to a weak heart and a poor cardiovascular system, further deteriorating one’s fitness and overall health. 

In one study conducted by the lead cardiologists at the Mayo Clinic, the amount of caffeine consumed in about 5 cups of coffee every day caused a great increase in the blood pressure of the patients, who already suffer hypertension, as against subjects who had normal blood pressures. The team of researchers also concluded that if you already have high blood pressure, then the continued intake of caffeine can permanently put you at a risk of a fatal heart condition, such as heart failure or a stroke. Limiting the intake of caffeine or coffee in high blood pressure patients can therefore be of great benefit in controlling and managing the pressure.

Reducing caffeine intake can help decrease your blood pressure:

In summation, if you suffer from high blood pressure, then you should surely take strong steps to curb your caffeine or coffee intake. You can start limiting your caffeine intake to 200 milligrams a day and lessen gradually to break the habit. By avoiding its regular intake, you can manage and control your high blood pressure efficiently and have a stronger and healthier heart.

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Maulik P. Purohit MD MPH

Assistant Medical Director, Medical Editorial Board, DoveMed Team

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